Controlling mechanism for vehicle dump doors



June 25, 1935. .1. D. BENBOW El AL CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP DOORS 5 Sheets-S11E61. 1

Original Filed Nov. 10, 1930 June 25, 1935. J. D. BENBOW ET AL 2,005,727

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP DOORS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June25, 1935. 4 D, BIENBOW ETAL 2,005,727

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP DOORS Original Filed Nova 10, 1930. 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I W L June 25, 1935. 'J. D. BENBOW ET AL 2,005,727

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP DOORS 7 Original Filed Nov. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 M, flash $60M J. BENBOW ET AL CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP DOORS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1950 5 Shqets-Sheet 5 \WMN L Patented June 25, 1935 CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DUMP poons James D. Benbow and De Mar A. Palmer, Aurora, Ill., assignors,1by mesne assignments, to Western-Austin Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 10, 1930', Serial No. 494,562 Renewed November 1'7, 1933 35 Claims.

tripped or released for dumping the weight of the load, such weight acts to assist in forcing the door. or doors to dumped position and is utilized 10 to store energy in a spring, which ener y is employed for returning the door or doors to normal closed position. More specifically, the present invention may be characterized as an improvement in operating and. controlling mechanisms of the type disclosed in the co'-pending application of De Mar A. Palmer, for Controlling mechanism for vehicle dumpdoors, Serial No. 494,551, filed November 10, 1930. The broad claims covering features of the operating and controlling mechanisms of the present application which are in common with features of the operating and controlling mechanisms of the co-pending appli cation, Serial No. 494,551, are contained in said co-pending application.

While the present invention has been particularly devised for load carrying wagons, carts and trailers having bottom dumping doors, it also has applicability to railway dump cars and to s dumping containers generally wherein a dumping door or closure is adapted to be returned to closed positionby spring energy.

One of the principal features of the invention resides in the provision of improved motion transmitting mechanism for operatively connecting the spring return means with the dumping door or doors.

In this regard, one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved motion transmitting mechanism by which the range of deflection to which the return spring is subjected during the movement of the doors can be reduced to a desirably smaller degree. In the preferred construction of dump wagon, the dump doors are pulled back to their closed positions, and held in such positions, by chains, cables or like flexible members, which have operative connection with the doors. These chains or cables are adapted to wind upon and unwind from drums or spirally grooved sheaves mounted on a winding shaft. In the dumping movement of the doors, this winding shaft is compelled to rotate through a motion ranging from one to three'or more complete revolutions, depending upon the proportions-of the parts. The return spring is preferably a helically coiled torsion spring which is caused to wind and unwind with the rotation of said shaft. Difiiculties are sometimes encountered when the construction is such that this torsion spring must be deflected or torsioned through the same range of angular movement as saidshaft. This is particularly true when space limitations on the wagon preclude theuse of a relatively long spring, it being evident that the shorter the spring the smaller the range of angular movement which can be transmitted to thatspring without large increases of torsional stress in the spring. It is undesirable to have the torsion pressure of the spring rise too suddenly as the dumping doors approach their fully dumped positions, because as the doorsapproach thesepositions the partial dumping of the load and the angular positions of thedoors combine to diminish the effective force which the doors can exert for winding the spring, and if thespring has too sudden a rise in torsion pressure it may interfere withcomplete opening of the doors. The present motion transmitting mechanism herein disclosed avoids this objection by providing for a relatively small range of deflection of the spring while the doors are moving between their closed and open positions. p

A further object of the invention in regard to this motion transmitting mechanism isto provide an improved mechanism, characterized by a variable ratio of mechanical advantage for se'-' curing improved operation of the doors and of i load and the less favorable angle of the doors to transmit energy to the spring, they nevertheless are enabled to open to their fully dumped positions. This variable ratio of mechanical advantage also cooperates in assuring complete closing of the doors in the closing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement and more compact assem bly of the operating parts, better suited tothe space limitations of the dumpvvagon. In the preferred construction incorporating this feature of the invention, the spring means is mounted separately from the winding shaft which carries the Y winding drums, and the shaft is operatively connected with the spring means through motion Cir spaced relation longitudinally of theside members of the main frame 2|. This exemplary type of dumping vehicle is illustratedin the Benbow and Green Patent'No. 1,706,099, granted March 19,

1929, to which reference may be had for a more detailed disclosure.

The improved mechanism disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 for controlling or operating the dumping doors comprises a transverse shaft 28 disposed at one end of the vehicle bed 22, preferably at the rear end, and rotatably journaled in spaced bearing brackets 29 suitably secured'to such end of the bed. Although it is preferred to mount this shaft 28 upon the end of the bed of the ve hicle, it will be readily understood that the shaft may be mounted in a similar manner upon the end member of the main frame 2!. Mounted on the central portion of this shaftZB are two spirally grooved winding drums or sheaves sh-3!, and two similar winding drums or sheaves 32 and 33 are suitably secured at the outer ends of the shaft. Winding upon the two intermediate drums 3i are chains or cables 34 which, as shown in. Figure 1, extend down to approximately the meeting edges of the doors 25, from which they extend lengthwise of the doors forwardly thereof, either through channels or tubular guides formed at the meeting edges of the doors, or under the doors in suitable guides therefor. The forward ends of the flexible members 34 are then connected to an equalizing member (not shown) which is, in turn, connected to a chain or cable 35 passing over a suitable guide sheave preferably disposed at one of the upper forward corners of the vehicle bed, thence extending along the outer side and adjacent the top edge of the bed back to the winding drum 33 at the outer end of the shaft 5.3. When the vehicle is provided with separate front and rear pairs of dumping doors, a second winding drum may be provided at the other outer end of the shaft 28 adjacent to the drum 32 and from this drum, suitable cable or chain connections may extend forwardly of the vehicle bed to the front pair of doors.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing, that, rotation of the shaft 23 in unwinding direction of the cables or chains 34. is operative to lower the doors to durnpins position, and rotation of such shaft in the opposite direction is operative to raise thedoors to closed position. I

Mounted preferably to one side of the rear end of the vehicle bed 22, to the leftas viewed in Figure 1, and on the end member of the main frame 2!, is a rather heavy helical coiled spring 36 in which energy is stored by the tensioning thereof in the dum' ing operation or rotation of the shaft 28, such energy being then employed after the completion of the dumping operation for returning the doors to closed position. The inner end of the spring 36 has anchored connection to a disc or collar 31 having peripheral one-way ratchet teeth 38, said collar being suitably fixedly connected to a shaft 39, which shaft is suitably journaled in spaced aligned brackets ii and 42, the former constituting the inner end bearing support and the latter the outer end bearing support. These brackets are suitably secured to the upper side of the end member of the main frame 2!, bracket 4! being suitably bolted, riveted, or welded to plate 43, in turn suitably secured'tc the upper side of the end member of the main frame 2 i'; and bracket 42 being suitably supported upon the end member of the main frame 2| by being bolted to a platform plate 43, in turn suitably secured to the outer end of the end member of main frame 2| and having a portion thereof extending,

over and beyond the outer end of such end member. A brace member it is suitably bolted to the under side of the plate l i adjacent its outer end, the lower end of brace member being in turn suitably bolted to the web portion of the end member of main frame 2i. Disposed between bracket H and collar 3? and suitably secured to the plate 43, is a second vertically extending bracket Q5, the upper end of which is reversely bent to provide a substantially U-shaped supporting portion ii, through the outer leg of which, and through the parallel web portion of bracket 4% and the upper end of bracket H, a pin ldextends, suoh pin supporting between the web portion of bracket 49 and the outer leg of. the supporting portion 41 a dog or pawl 59, which is adapted to cooperate with the teeth 33 of the collar to retain such collar in adjusted position.

The outer end of spring as is anchored in the r .hub 5| of an arm 52, which is suitably journaled upon the shaft to between bracket 12 and the outer end of spring for rotation in a substantially vertical. plane. The free end of lever 52 is suitably connected with one end of a chain or if cable 53, which is adapted to wind upon the helically grooved drumtZ. The outer end of shaft 38 is provided with a polygonally shaped portion 5d upon which a suitable crank handle may be mounted to initially tension the coil spring 35. 5

Such initial tensioning is transmitted to the right hand end of the spring 35 through. the ratchet wheel or toothed collar El, fidandthis initial tension maintained by the engagement of the dog at with the teeth of said collar. Disengagement of this dog enables the initial tension to be backed off through the shaft for obtaining a lower initial tension, desired. The mounting of the spring 36 on the shaft 35 which is separate and apart from thewinding shaft 28, thus facilitates making these tension adjustments.

It will be noted that, in the dumped position of the doorsv as shown in Figure 1, chain 53 is wound upon its drum 32, bringing the free end of lever 52 up to a proximate position with respect to the drum This is the maximum upward swinging position of arm When the doors are moved to closed position, arm ro tates ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure-2, and with the doors in closed position arm 52 assumes the downwardly extended dotted line position shown in Figure 2. It will be clearly apparent that the angular displacement of arm 52, between. its. two extreme positions, is sub-- stantially less than one-half revolution thereof, so that a relatively small range of deflection or torsional displacement is transmitted to the coil spring 36, even though the winding drums 3!, 33 are caused to rotate one or more revolutions. As has been hereinbefore pointed out, to obtain maximum efficiency and to avoid objectionably sharp increases of stress in the case of a relatively short heavy coil spring, the limits of tor-- sional displacement should preferably not exceed one convolution. Thus, since arm 52 is angu-. larly displaced in both opening and closing movements of the doors for less than one revolution, the coil spring 35 is subjected to deflectionor displacement only within the limits above defined.

It will, of course, be understood that the spring is of such capacity that the weight of the load acting downwardly on the dumping doors when the latter are tripped, creates sufficient tension pin 73.

in the spring to raise the doors to closed position after the weight of the load is removed therefrom. 7

It is desirable that the doors be positively retained in closed position to support a load and,

7 upon d'uinpingof the load, it is further, desirable that the doors be retained in open position until the vehicle has been moved away from the pile of material deposited so thatthey may be freely returned to closed position without interference from the pile of material. To this end, the dumping of the doors is effected by the tripping of a'suitable ratchet mechanism, and, in like manner, the spring actuated return of the doors to closed position is effected by'the tripping of such ratchet mechanism. A single ratchet mechanism may be employed for both operations, a preferred form of such ratchetmechanism being illustrated in the form of a unit in Figures 1 and 3.

Such ratchet mechanism, generally indicated at 55, comprises. a ratchet wheel 56 having pe ripheral notches therein defining regular peripheral teeth 51, such wheel being fixedly secured to the shaft 28 by means of one or more keys 58,

the teeth 57 being adapted to cooperate with a ratchet pin 55' carried in the bifurcated upper end of a lever 6| of substantially U-shaped configura tion, the intermediate portion 82 of which is journaled upon a pin 63 mounted in the bifurcated upper end. of a link 64. Pin 53 has its ends extending beyond the legs of the bifurcated link 64. A pair, of parallel links 65 have their outer ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of pin 53 and are'suitably retained from displacement on said pin. The forward ends of links 65 are pivotally connected to the upper end of a bracket 55 suitably secured to the lower corner of the rear end of the bed. The'lower end of link 64 is pivotally connected to the upper bifurcated end of a similar link 6? by a pin 68, the outer end of which extendsbeyond the outer leg of link 61 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The lower end of link 6'! is pivotally connected at 14 to the bracket '66. provided with a lug or extension 69 to which one end of a coil spring H is anchored, the other end of such coil spring being anchored to the racket 66. Spring H draws the knuckle pin 68 forwardly toward the bracket, causing the extending end of 'pin 68 to engage a rearwardly extending ear 12 provided on the bracket 66 said ear constituting a support for an operating or tripping lever 13 pivotally carried thereby upon With the spring H holding the knuckle pivot pin 68 against the ear'12, this knuckle pivot lies-slightly to the front of a line extended between the upper and lower pins 63 and I4, respectively. Hence, the toggle joint formed by links and 51 is held in locked position, the upper member 64 being prevented from swinging down- 'wardly and inwardly by the engagement of the pin 83 with the ear 12. The upper member 6! is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly extending lug 15, to which one end of a coil spring 16 I is anchored, the other end of the spring being anchored invan outwardly extending lug 11 provided upon the: journaled intermediate portion connecting the lower portions of link 64. This spring 16 is of such strength as to have atendency to normally urge the upper member 6| substantially to align itself with link 64, this tendency being effective upon the upper member l whether the member is to one side or the other of its pivot $3. The intermediate portion'of the The inner leg of 'link'B'l is tripping lever 13 is provided with a suitable perforation forthe reception therein of a tripping rod 203 extending along the lower side of the bed and forwardly thereof to the front end of the bed, providing a remote control foran operator positioned in advance of the vehicle. This remote control connection will be described in detail in connection with the description of the showing in Figure 13.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, with the doors in dumped position, the ratchet mechanism parts assume the position thereof illustrated in full 7.

At this time, the toggle con- I lines in Figure 3. V nection between links 64 and 61 is maintained in locked position, thereby preventing oscillation of the upper member 6| about its pivot in a counter-' clockwise direction, whereby spring return rotation of ratchet wheel 56 and, consequently, of shaft 28 is restrained. A pull upon the operating rod connected with tripping lever 13 oscillates the-upper end of such lever rearwardly or in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, thereby forcing the knuckle pivot 68 rearwardly into a past center relation to the line extended between the upper and lower pins 63 and 14, re-

spectively, whereupon the toggle connection falls,

rearwardly and downwardly, moving the pin 68 downwardly about the pin 14 as a center, thereby freeing the pivot pin 63 and pawl 6| tomove downwardly. The wheel 56 and "its associated shaft 28 are now free to rotate in spring return direction of rotation of the shaft to permit closing of the doors. As the wheel 56 rotates in such direction, the pin 59 is carried around to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 3 and idly oscillates into and out of the ratchet teeth 51, since the toggle arrangement is ineffective at this time. After such tripping of the lever'13, the operator may immediately release the lever, the spring H becoming promptly effective to return the knuckle pin 68 to its'original past center position, whereupon, as soon as the doors have been returned to fully closed position, the ratchet mechanism then becomes effective to restrain reverse rotation of the shaft 28. After the vehicle has been again loaded, and it is subsequently desired to dump such load, a pull upon the tripping lever 13 again breaks the toggle connection, rendering'the. pawl or pin 53 inefiective to restrain rotation of the shaftto dumping position, whereupon, upon completion of the dumping operation, the parts assume the positions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. i 7

Coming now to the embodiment disclosed in Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, we have shown a door operating and control mechanism adaptable for controlling dumping and spring return movements of the doors of. a four door vehicle of the balanced type illustratedin the'Benbow and Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the improved mechanism comprises a palir' of axially aligned shafts 8| and 82 disposed forrotation transversely of one end of the vehicle bed, preferably at the rear end, such shafts being jour naled in spaced bearing brackets 83 and 84, and 85 and 86, respectively, the brackets being suit ably secured to the end of the bed. The inner ends of shafts BI and 8 2 are disposed inproximate relation, but are adapted to have relative rotative movementfwith respect to each other. The outer end of shaft 8| carries thereon a helically grooved drum 81 upon which a cable or chain suitably associated with the rear compartment doors is adapted to" wind. Similarly, the outer end of shaft 82 carries thereon, and fixedly secured thereto, a helically grooved drum '88 upon which a chain or cable, connected with the front compartment doors, is adapted to wind.

Mounted concentrically of the shaft 86 and adjacent the outer end thereof, is a rather heavy helical spring 89 in which energy is stored by the tensioning thereof in the dumping operation of shaft 89, such energy being then employed for returning the shaft to door closed position. The outer end of the spring has anchored connection with a collar SI rotatably mounted on the shaft BI and disposed in proximity to the bearing bracket 84. Collar GI is provided with radially inwardly directed recesses or holes 92 extending inwardly from he outer periphery thereof, and bracketBd carries thereon a member 93 disposed preferably above collar 9i and carrying thereon a suitable locking pin 94 which is adapted to take into the holes 92 to retain the collar 53! in desired adjusted position. The inner end of spring 85 has anchored connection with a collar '95 suitably keyed to the shaft @I. The outer end of shaft BI is provided with a polygonally-shaped reduced portion 96 over which a suitable crank handle is adapted to take, which crank handle may be utilised to rotate the shaft 8! in a direction to lower the doors, should it be desired to move the doors to dumped position when there is no load in the wagon.

A novel clutching means, generally indicated at Bl, is adapted to provide a lost motion connection between shafts 8i and 82 when it is desired, in the course of operation of the doors of the dumping vehicle, to permit relative rotation between the two shafts. This clutching'niechanism 91 comprises a collar or disc 98 suitably keyed to shaft SI adjacent the inner end of such shaft, such collar being provided along its inward lateral face with a laterally projecting radial lug 99. Similarly,'shaft 82 carries thereon, adjacent the inner end thereof, a collar iii! suitably keyed thereto and having a laterally inwardly projecting lug I82 extending radially in- Wardly from the outer periphery thereof along the inner lateral face thereof-J The outer sides or faces of the collars 9 8 and till are disposed in proximity to the. brackets 83 and 85, respectively. Loosely carried by the proximate ends of the shafts 8! and S2 and between the inner faces of collars 93 and IE3! is a collar I63 having a 'radially'outwardly extending lug H14, such lug being of sufficient length to be engaged by either or both lugs 99 and IE2. Lugs 99am I02, however, are not suiiiciently long to interengage, and preferably are of such length as to freely pass each other. Thus, when shaft 8! is adapted to be rotated in dumping direction, as indicated'by the arrow A in Figure 8, lug 89 may freely rotate for approximately one revolution thereof until it engages lug I64, and upon such engagement may continue to rotate by carrying collar I53 around with it for approximately another revolution prior to the engagement of the lug IE4 with the lugIilZ. From such a position, when the rear compartment doors are released for spring return movement, a similar action takes place, restoring the parts to the position illustrated in Figures 7 "and '8. It will, of course, be readilyapparent that, if shaft 82 isto be permitted to rotate in dumping direction as indicated by the arrow A in Figure 8, lug I02 carries. around with it lug I04, which in turn, by its engagement with lug 99, carries disc 98 and shaft 8!. around with it.

' Thus shaft 8'! may be released to permit 'dump- 5 ing movement'of the rear compartment doors without in any way effecting dumping movement of the front compartmentdoors. However, when the shaft 82 is adapted to be rotated to permit dumping of the front compartment, if shaft 8| is in the position illustrated in Figures- 7 and 8, it must be permitted to rotate with shaft 82.

The dumping and closing movements of shaft 85 are controlled by a two-way ratchet mechanism, generally indicated at I 35. This ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel I96 having peripheral teeth i the wheel being fixedly keyed to the shaft ill, teeth lillbeing adapted toficooperate with a ratchetpin I08 carried in the bifurcatedupper end of a link I69, the inter mediate portion of such link being journaled upon a pin HI mounted inv the bifurcated upper end of a link H2. Pin lllhas its ends extending beyond the legs of bifurcated link II2 anda pair of parallel links H3 havetheir outer ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of .pinIIII and are suitably retained from displacement from such pin. The rear ends of links IE3 are :pivotally connectedto the upper end of a bracket I I4 secured to the rear side of the rear end of the bed. The lower end of link II2 is pi-votally con-- n'ected' to the upper bifurcated end of a similar link 5 i5 by means of a pin I 86, such' pin extending outwardly beyond the outer leg of link II5 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The lower end of link I55 is pivotally connected to the bracket Ht on a pair of ears II'I by means of a pin IE8. One end of a coil spring H9 has anchored connection with an upwardly extending projection I2l provided on the outer leg of link i IS, the other end of such spring H9 having. anchored connection with pin I22 constituting the pivotal connection between the links H3 and bracket IM. Spring 1 I9 draws the knuckle pin I56 forwardly towards the bracket, causing the extending end of pin i I6 to engage a rearwardly extending ear I23 provided on bracket IM', said ear constituting a stop limiting the forward. movement of the knuckle pin H6. Withthe spring H9 holding the knuckle pivot H6 against the ear I23, such knuckle pivot lies slightly to the front of a line extended between the upper and lower pins Hi and H8. Hence, the toggle joint formed by links I52 and H5 is held in locked position, the upper member or link I09 being prevented from swinging forwardly. Theintermediate portion of the upper link we is provided with a downwardly extending lug with which one end of a coil spring I24 has anchored connection, the other end of the coil spring I24 having anchored connection with an outwardly extending lug provided on the journaledintermediate portion of link M2. This spring is of such strength as to have a tendency to normally urge the upper link I99 to align itself in a vertically extending radial relation to the ratchet wheel 5%. This tends to hold the ratchet pin lil8lin the teeth of the ratchet wheel and this tendency is effective upon the upper link I69 whether the pin I 88 is to one side or the-other of its pivot II t. Tripping of the ratchet mechanism is accomplished by a tripping aria-I25 carried bill a horizontally disposed shaft I26; Such shaft I26 extends through a tubular shaft I21 andoutwardextending rearwardly from bracket I I4: supported onplate I I4 and beneath ratchet mech- 1y jbeyond the outer end thereof, and carries at its extreme outer end a tripping lever I28; 1

:A pull upon the tripping lever I28 oscillates the lug or lever I25, carried by rod I26, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, there by forcing the knuckle pivot I I6 outwardly into a past, center relation' to the line extended beis carried around in a clockwise direction as.

viewed in Figure 5, pin l08, idly oscillating into and :outof the ratchet teeth I01 as the shaft 8 If continues to rotate in dumping direction. During this operation, the tripping lever I28 may be released, whereupon spring II9 becomes promptly effective to return the knuckle pin II6 to'its original 'pastcent'e'r' position with respectto the lineconnecting pins I I I and I I8, thus again locking the toggle connection formed by links H2 and H5. Upon completion of the dumping operation, ratchet mechanism I05 is then effective toprevent'return rotation of the shaft'BI, thus retaining the doors of. the rear. compartment in dumped. position.v After the vehicle has been moved'away from the deposited pile of material, asecond pull upon the tripping lever I28 will again. break the toggle connection between links II2.fand II5, releasing shaft 8| for spring return rotation under the influence of spring 89.

The operation of shaft 82 is similarly controlled'byv a ratchet mechanism, generally indicated at I3 I but, in view of the clutch connection 91 between shafts ill and 82, it is only necessary that shaft 82 be controlled .to restrain its movement in dumping rotation Ratchet I3I also comprises a ratchet wheel I32 suitably keyed to shaft 82 and provided with peripheral ratchet teeth I33. Such teeth I33 are adapted to cooperate with. a ratchet .pin I34 mounted in thebifurcatedupper endof'a substantially'Yshaped lever I 35, the intermediate portion of which is'pivotally supported upon a pin I36 in the bifurcated upper end of a link I31. The lower end of link I31 has pivotal connection by means of a pin. I39 with a pair of spaced ears I38 Also anism I3I is the tubular shaft I21, the inner end of which is provided with a camming lever I4I adaptedto engage the rear edge of the leg or tail portion I42 of ,the Y-shaped lever I35., The other end of tubular shaft I21 carries thereon a tripping lever I43. A rearwardly extending projection I44 provided upon the rear face of plate or bracket I I4 is adapted to engage the hub portion oflever I35 to limit the forward movement thereof. A coil' spring I45 has one, end thereof an chored in a rearwardly extending lug I46 on the the pin I36 to normally lie beyond or forwardly of a line connecting pinsl34 and I39, thereby causing the't'oggle connection formed by lever I35 and link I31 to be normally'held locked. A

tension spring I41 connected between the lever arm I42 and lug I46 tends to rotate toggle lever I35-442 clockwise'to aid restoration of such toggle lever to its normal-position illustrated in Fig.

6. In the position of the parts shown in Figure 6, i shaft 82 is restrained from rotation in dumping 7 direction. y 7

A pull on the tripping lever I 43, in the direction indicated by the arrow at the lower end thereof, causes the cam lever I to break the toggle connection between lever I35 and link I31, whereupon wheel I32 will be free to rotatein dumping direction, during which interval pin I34 will be, carried around in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6 and will oscillate idly over the teeth I33 of wheel I32. It will be readily apparent that ratchet mechanism I3I is ineffective'to restrain rotation of the shaft 82 inspring return direction rotation of shaft 82, but such rotation will carry the ratchet pin I34 back to its normal position illustrated in Figure 6'.

In operation, assuming that the rear com-' partment doorsare in closed position, a pull upon tripping levers I28 and I43 will cause re.-

lease of th'e'ratchet mechanisms I05 and I3I,

the latter in turn will abut lug 99 associated with f shaft 8I, whereupon shafts 82 and- 8| will be caused to rotate in unison in dumping direction.

During such rotation of the shafts, spring 89 will be tensioned, and, upon completion of the dumping movement of all doors, ratchet mechanism I05 will become effective to restrain reverse rota tion of shaft 8| and, consequently, shaft 82, whereby the doors will be retained in open position until the vehicle has been moved away from the deposited pile of material. Upon subsequent tripping of the ratchet mechanism I05,'the spring 89 will become effective to rotate shaft 8| in spring return direction and such movement of the shaft '8I will impart similar movement to shaft 82 vthrough the clutch mechanism 91. In the course of such return movement of shaft 82, ratchet mechanism I3I original effective position for restraining dumping rotation of the shaft 82, as shown in Figure 6. As has been heretofore explained, shaft 8I may be independently released for dumping rotation, whereby the; rear compartment load may be dumped independently of dumping of the front compartment load. It will be further readily apparent that when the rear compartment doors are in closed position, tripping of lever I43 and release of ratchet mechanism I 3I will be ineffective to permit dumping of the load of the front compartment until ratchet mechanism I05 is likewise tripped. vThus, an attempt byan operator to dump the front compartment load prior to dumping of the rear compartment load is precluded. Of course, it will be readily apparent that if it is desired todump both compartment loads simultaneously, tripping of both levers I43 and I28 simultaneously with the compartments loaded, will cause release of both shafts BI and 82 for simultaneous rotation, whereupon both front and rear compartment loads may be concurrently dumped. 7

Referring now more particularly to Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, we have illustrated axfurther embodiment of thepresent invention in. a four door dump vehicle of the balanced support type inwhich a novel operating arrangement is estabwill be restored to its suitable guides therefor.

lished between the doors and the return spring to insure wide opening of the doors.

Referring more specifically to Figure 9, we

have illustrated in perspective a dump vehicle of the character disclosed in the Benbow and Green patent above noted, such type of vehicle comprising, by way of example, a main frame II, a load carryingbed or hopper I52 carriedor supported thereon, and a pair of endless track laying or creeper tread units I53 on which the frame and bed are supported through arched axle brackets (not shown) extending outwardly and downwardly on opposite sides of the frame and intermediate the ends thereof.

The vehicle bed is preferably divided into two compartments fore and aft by a suitable partition. Two pairs of doors I54 are adapted to close the bottoms of such compartments and may have any suitable hinged or pivotal connection with the bed or frame, such, for example,-as by hinge eyes I55 secured to the outer edges of the doors and having swinging and vertically sliding engagement with suitable hinge brackets or bars I56 secured in spaced relation longitudinally of the side members of the main frame I5I. The front ends of the side portions of the main frame I M are secured to an elevated platform or frame extension I51, such extension being, in most instances, adapted to be supported on a wheeled truck I58, although this construction is such that the wheeled truck may be easily removed, whereby the front end of the vehicle may bemounted directly on a tractor or other pulling vehicle.

In the present instance, the door operating and control mechanisms are preferably supported at the front end of the vehicle bed. Referring now more particularly to Figures 1O, 11 and 12, the operating mechanism embodying the salient features of the present invention comprises a pair of axially aligned transverse shafts I6I and I62, the former being adapted to control the dumping and closing movements of the rear pair of doors, while the latter is adapted to control the dumping and closing movements of the front pair of doors. Shafts I 6| and I62 are suitably supported in spaced brackets I63, I64, I65 and I66, suitably secured to the front end of the hopper bed I52, the proximate ends of shafts I6I and I62 being disposed between brackets I64 and I65. The outer end of shaft IGI is provided with a helically grooved pulley or drum I51, upon which a cable or chain I68 (see Figure 9) is adapted to wind for controlling the movements of the rear doors. The pulley or drum I61 has a suitable securing means at its outer end such as a bracket or yoke (not shown) to which the end of the chain I 68 is secured, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Shaft I 62 carries thereon, substantially centrally of the width of the vehicle bed, two spirally grooved winding drums or sheaves I69, and at its outer end another spirally grooved sheave or drum I1I. Winding upon the two intermediate drums I69 are suitable chains or cables I12 extending downwardly to approximately the meeting edges of the front doors, from which they extend lengthwise of the doors, either through channels or tubular guides formed at the meeting edges of the doors, or under the doors, in The rear ends of the flexible members I12 are connected to an equalizing member (not shown) which is, in turn, connected to a chain or cable I13 passing over a suitable guide sheave and thence along the outer rside and adjacent the top edge of the bed back to the winding drum I II on the outer end of shaft Ratchet mechanisms of substantially the same type as are disclosed in connection with the operating mechanisms illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, are provided, ratchet mechanism I being substantially a duplicate of ratchet mechanism IE5 for controlling movements of shaft IEiI, being of the two-way transposable type. Ratchet mechanism H6, associated with shafts I52 for controlling the dumping movement of the front pair of doors, is a substantial duplicate of ratchet mechanism ISI, illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, being of the one-way type. Thus, as in the case of the embodiment disclosed in Figures 4 to S, inclusive, dumping of the rear pair of doors, where it is desired to dump the compartments independently of each other,must be first carried out before the load in the front compartment may be dumped.

The spring return mechanism of the present embodiment comprises a spring I11 concentrically, coiled about a shaft I18 suitably journaled in bearing brackets such as I19 supported on the platform or frame extension I51, The spring and cooperating parts may be of the same general character as those disclosed in connection with the embodiment of Figure l, with the exception of the mechanism for transmitting motion from the spring actuated shaft I18 to the winding shaft I6 I. Suitably secured to the outwardly extending end ofthe shaft I18 is an arm I3! constituting a portion of the motion transmitting connection between the spring return mechanism and shaft I6! controlling the movements of the rear compartment doors.

Referring more specifically to Figure 11, arm Ifil comprises an arm portion I82 extending radially from hub I83 which embraces, the outer end of shaft E18, this arm I8I being provided with a substantially right angularly disposed camming portion I84 extending from hub I83, the cam face I85 thereof having its radius of curvature increasing from the hub I63 outwardly to its outer end. The outer end of arm portion I32 is com nected to a portion of the grooved drum I61 carried at the outer end of shaft ISI by means of a chain or cable I86 (see Figure 11). The connecting end of the chain I86 is secured to'a suitable yoke or bracket on the inner end of the drum m, or at the opposite end from the connected end of the chain I 68. It will thus be evident that chains I 68 and I 86 are alternately wound upon the drum H31, while the other of said chains is being unwound therefrom. That is, when the doors I 56 are closed, chain I 68 will be wound upon the drum I51, while at the same time the chain I86'will be unwound therefrom, the latter assuming the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 11. Conversely, when the doors reach their maximum opened position, the chain I68 will be substantially entirely unwound from the drum I 61, while chain I86 will be Woundupon the drum its maximum extent, as illustrated in chain IE extending from the end of said arm' down around and under the cam EM and thence up to the drum ESE. When the ratchet mechanism I is tripped and the doors start to'dump, the tension transmitted through the chain I85 is 7 effective on the winding spring shaft 5E8 through a relatively short lever arm, corresponding in length to the smallest radius of tie cam I34.

However, at this time, the weight of the load is exerting its maximum pressure on the doors, by reason of the entire weight acting thereon and by reason of the doors being disposed at right angles to the downward thrust of the load, and hence the pressure exerted on the doors transmits winding rotation to the shaft 5'53, notwith-.

standing the short lever arm at the minimum radlus of the cam i534. As the doors move downwardly, dumping part of the load and dimin ishing the effectiveness of the angle of doors against which the load bears, the oscillation of the cam 54 presents a continuously increasing lever arm through which the pull of the chain transmits winding rotation to the shaft I18. 'As the doors approach their wide open positions, the end of the long lever arm I swings around to a position Where the pull of the chain has a maximum eifect thereon and hence, by virtue of this largely increased mechanical advantage through which winding rotation is transmitted to the return'spring, the doors are enabled to swing downwardly to a wide open position, notwithstanding the fact that the tension of said spring is continuously increasing and the force of the load acting against the doors is continuously decreasing. This varying ratio of mechanicaladvantage insures complete dumping and prevents spreading of the load or. the possibility of difficulty of closing the doors through their failure to open to a sufficient width. Conversely, this arrangement is also of advantagein the operation of closing the doors. With the tripping of'the ratchet mecahnism for a return mevement of the doors, after the wagon has drawn awayfrom the pile, the doors in their substantially vertical position do not require much eiiort tov start them winging inwardly and upwardly, and the long radius of the-arm 933 can transmit enough effort to effect such movement. However, as the doors approach their closed position, their weight es, tablishes higher reacting pressure, but'at this time the return spring acting through. the diminishin radius of the m4 and, hence, the. increasing moment of the doors is: compen sated. Accordingly, the doors are closed with a rapid, accelerating movement which insures then being swung up to completely,closedpos'ltion. This constru'ction'may'be embodied in a cart type of vehicle having only one pair of doors extending from end to end of the bed, or it may be embodiedin a vehicle having separate front and rearpairs of doors, such wehave illustrated in Figures 9 and i9, and in either of these. constructions the same operating principle. will fol-e lOwin'the closing of a single pair of doors, or the 1 7 2 full lines in Figure l1. It is understood that the.

rearpair of doors, and willalso follow'in -the closing of two pairs of doors, inasmuch asinthe,

construction illustrated the meansfor closingthe front pair of doors is dependent for its operation upon the means for closing the rear pair of doors. In this connection, it is to-be noted that a varying,

ratio of mechanical advantage is also present in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, lsinc'e:the

effective. moment arm or radius of lever 52" changes with the different angular positions of, said lever.

Inasmuch as the operating and controlmech anisms disclosed in Figures 9-to 12, inclusive, are located upon the elevated forward frame extension I5'Ilwhere such mechanisms are liable to be affected by spillage of material being loaded into the bed, we have provided a cover member- E83 which houses the movable elements of-the mechanisms from harmful eifccts of such spillv age. 3

In Figure 18 we-have illustrated a. fragmentary perspective view of a single compartment dump vehicle in which an operating and control mechanism for the doors thereof is mounted at the rear end of the vehicle, showing a novel form of remote control mechanism extending forwardly of the vehicle for operation by an 'operator'positioned in advance of the vehiclefor controlling tripping or releasing ofthe ratchet mechanism mechanism. In the exemplary; type of vehicle.

associated withthe door operating and control illustrated the dump wagon or cart comprises a main frame I92, a load carrying bed or-hopper !92 carried or supported thereon, and a pair of endless track laying orcreeper treadzunits I 93 on wh ch the frame and bed are, supported through arched axle brackets, such, for exam-;

pic, as ifikextending outwardly anddownwardly on opposite sides of the frame and intermediate the ends thereof. The open bottomof the bed I92 is normally closed by a pair of dump doors such'as I95;-which may have any suitable hinged or pivotal connection with the bed: or

frame, such, for'example, as by hinge eyes I96 secured to the outer edges of the doors and having swinging and vertically sliding engagement with suitable hinge brackets or bars I91 secured in spaced relation longitudinally of the side members of the main frame I9I.u The forward end members, such as ZOI, while the ends of the bed may he suitably rce'nforcedby angle members 2:22. To effectively control a ratchet mechanism such as 55, illustrated inccnnecti0n-with the operating mechanism. shown in Figure l, the tripping lever of such ratchet mechanism is controlled by a rod 203 slidably extending. along the lower edge of the vehicle bed I32 and adjacent the side member of the main frame I9I through suitable perforations 264 provided in the angle reenforcing members 23!; At its forwardend, the

operating rod 203 is pivotally connected to an arm 205 of a crank 285 terminating at itsend opposite the arm 205 in another arm 2'01,--the free' end of which has suitably connected thereto a flexible member 288, such as a rope, extending forwardly along thetrunlg-like draft member I98 I and through a suitable guide means, such, for.

' pelling vehicle foraccessibility to an operator thereof. The crank member 266 may be journaled in a pair of spaced brackets 2H suitably secured to the front end outer face of the vehicle bed. To provide for free swinging movement of the crank 206, such crank may be provided with a bowed intermediate portion M2, and the angle iron 262 over which such intermediate portion is adapted to swing is provided with a cutaway notch 2&3 to accommodate such intermediate portion 2i2 of .crank 22% when the crank is rotated for tripping of the ratchet mechanism. A tension spring 25 is concentrically mounted on rod 293 between the front end reenforcing member 2M and the front end of the bed, and has one end anchored to such reenforcing member, the front end of such coil spring 2M being suitably anchored to the arm 285 of crank member 2%, whereby spring 2M normally tends to urge the rod 258 rearwardly for normally maintaining' the tripping lever of the ratchet mechanism in inoperative condition. By employing a flexible member, such as 288, it will be readily apparent that when the vehicle bed is being loaded by a mechanism such as a steam shovel or crane, any spillage of materials which might take place over the front end of the vehicle bed, will have no effect upon the remote control connections for operating or tripping the ratchet mechanism, since a slight amount of slack in the'rope 208 will prevent actuation by spillage. In constructions having two tripping levers, represented by the levers I28 and M3 in Figure 4, the rod 203, crank 206 and rope 298 will merely be duplicated for the other tripping lever. It will be noted that when the operator on the tractor or other pulling vehicle desires to dump the doors to open position or to restore the doors to closed position he merely jerks on the rope or ropes 208, a pull thereon serving to dump the doors and a pull thereonserving to restore the doors. The rope may be-relaxed immediately after pulling, as there is no need of holding the rope for any predetermined length of time in either the dumping or restoring operation.

Coming now to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 14, we have fragmentarily illustrated a portion of a spring return mechanism such as may be employed with the embodiment disclosed in Fig. l, but it is to beunderstood that this type of spring return mechanism has mere ly been chosen as exemplary, the novelty disclosed therein being adaptable to the other modified forms of spring return mechanisms disclosed herein. As in the case of the embodiment disclosed in Figure l, a coil spring 22l has anchored connection at its inner end with a disc or collar 222 fixedly secured or keyed'to a shaft 223 at the inner end thereof in proximate relation to an upwardly extending bearing bracket 225. 221 has anchored connection with the hub portion of a lever 225 which is rotatably journaled upon shaft 223 and which may be maintained in abutment with the outer bearing bracket 226 providing the outer end journal bearing for shaft 223. The improvement in the present embodiment resides in the provision of means for preventing buckling of the coil spring 22l due to the relatively great torsional stresses to which spring 22! may be subjected in the course of operation of the dump doors of a vehicle with The other end of the coil spring which v it is associated. ;The improved means comprises the provision of a reduced portion 221 onthe collar 222 anda similar reduced portion 228 provided on the hub of the lever 225. Associatedwith, and seated on, the periphery of the reduced portion 22'! is a sleeve 229 which is of slightly smaller diameter than the inner periphery of the coil spring 221, the other end of the sleeve being seated on the outer periphery of a collar 23! disposed approximately at the center of shaft 223. Similarly, a metallic tube or sleeve 232 has one end thereof seated about the reduced portion 228 of the lever 225, extending inwardly and having its inner end seated upon a collar 233 disposed proximately tothe collar 23!. It will be readily apparent that sleeves 229 and 232, in conjunction with the associated reduced portions and collars 231 and 233 will readily prevent any buckling action of spring 22L .By providing col1ars23l and 233 at substantially the median portion of the shaft 223, suitable reenforcing means is provided for the sleeves 229 and 232 at the point where the greatest buckling tendency-of spring 22 exists. It willbe of course readily understood that col.-

lars 23l and 233 may be replaced by a single collar of sufiicient depth to accommodate the inner proximate ends of the sleeves 22 3 and 232...

In conjunction with the embodiment disclosed in Figure 14, we have also illustrated a modified form of locking means for maintaining initial tension imparted to spring 22tby therotation of shaft-223; This means comprises, a slidable bolt or plug 234 which may; pass transversely through bearing plate 2% and suitably engage either one-way ratchette'eth or perforations provided laterally 01301: transversely of, the col lar-222,-respectively. Thus, initial tension may be-imposed upon spring-2H and, when the predetermined tension has: been reached, bolt or plug I234 may be inserted through the bearing. plate 224 for engagement with the cooperating ratchet teeth or perforations provided in col-, 1ar222.

Referring now more particularly .to Figures 15 and 16, wehaveillustrated another embodiment of the present invention{ incorporating novel features in an operating and controlling mechanism for four door vehicles of the two compartment type in which dumping of the load of the front compartment in advance of'dumping of.

the load of the'rear; compartment is precluded. Such operating and controlling mechanism comprises a pair of axiallyaligned shafts 24lembodiment illustrated in Figure l is employed.

The tripping mechanism for ratchet mechanism 244 comprises a tripping arm 245 suitably secured to a rotatable shaft 246 suitably journaled in a pair of spaced bearing brackets 247, shaft. 246 carrying at its end, extending inwardly be yond the inner bracket 241,- a tripping lever 248.

A pull on the tripping lever 248 causes arm 245 to engage the'toggle pin of ratchet mechanism 244, thereby breaking the toggle connection of.

such ratchet mechanism and freeing the ratchet pawl'thereof for transposition to be effective in the Op osite directions r l Shaft 242 is similarly provided witha ratchet wheel 249 cooperating with which is a ratchet.

mechanism 251, also of the two-way transposable type. 'Similarly, ratchet mechanism 25l is V tripped by an arm 252 carried by a shaft 253 suitably journaled' in a pair of spaced bearing brackets 254, the end of shaft 253 projecting beyond the inner bracket 254 having suitably secured there-- to 'a tripping lever- 255. A pull on the tripping lever'255 is adapted through arm 252 to break the toggle connection of ratchet mechanism 25| for accomplishing transposition of the pawl means thereof for effecting control of ratchet wheel 24! L in'the opposite direction of rotation thereof.

Concentrically mounted with respect to shafts 2M and 242 and extending beyond the proximately disposed-ends of such shafts between ratchet wheels 243 and 249, is a coil spring 256, one end of which has anchored connection with ratchet wheel 243, while the other 'end thereof has anchored connection with ratchet wheel 249. One or moresleeves 251 of the character. disclosed in Figure 14 are provided about the proximate ends of shafts 2 4l and 242 to prevent buckling of thespring 256, these sleeves being arranged to permit independent-rotation of the shafts. Preferably, the proximate ends of shafts 2H and 242 are disposed adjacent ratchet wheel 243, such ends being maintained in aligned relation by means of a suitable sleeve 258. r r 7 It will be understood that shafts 24! and 242 are adapted to rotate in opposite direction's upon dumping movement of the associatedcorresponding doors whereby tension is imposed upon spring 2 56, which, upon completion of the dumping operation, is then adapted to' rotate the shafts inopposite directions'to return the associated corre-Y sponding doors to closed position. The two shafts '40 can be causedjto rotatein opposite directions;-one

with respect to the other i n the dumping operation and in the return operation, by merely-re versing a certain one or ones of the winding sheaves, represented at 8|, 32, 33, 81,88 etc., so

that the chain leading to one door will come down from the front side of its sheave and the chain leading tothe other door will come down from the back side of its sheave.

'The control means for preventing dumpingop eration of the front compartment doors prior to the dumping of therear compartment doors comprises a novel means adapted to prevent tripping action of the ratchet mechanism 25I prior to dumping release of ratchet mechanism 244; Carried by shaft 2 is a cam control wheel 26]- provided with a pair of spaced peripheral grooves 262 and 263, such grooves being connected with'a helical groove 264. Ayertically disposed shaft 265 is suitably journaled in a pair of spaced brackets 266, the upper projecting end, of shaft 265 carrying thereon and fixedly secured thereto a crank arm 261 having an upwardlyprojecting lug 258 whichis adaptedto extend into and cooperate with grooves 262, 263 and 264, as will 65 a be more specifically hereinafter described. The

' alaterally extending arm 269 fixedly secured to intermediateportion of shaft 265 is provided with such shaft and having its free end extending outwardly, such free end providing anchoring connection for one end of a coil spring 21!, the other end of such coil spring being suitably anchored to an ear 212 suitably secured to the bracket or mounting plate for the ratchet mechanismsp Arm 2 69 is adapted to be so controlled by spring 21! as to normally tend to rotate shaft 265 to position lug 268 substantially'midway between grooves 2:52 and 263. Disposed below amiss and suitably secured to shaft 265 is a second arm 213 having an' extension thereon, with which a control rod 214 is associated, whereby oscillations of the shaft 265 will impart sliding'move- 5 ment to such control rod 214. The inner end of control rod 214 has loose sliding mounting'ina hole 248' formed in the tripping lever 248, this mounting permitting reciprocation of the rod and also permitting the rod to be carried sidewise by.

the lever through the comparatively small range of tripping movement of said lever. When the rod is projected endwise, the end thereof is moved into the path of a shoulder 255 on the other tripping lever 255, whereby that lever cannot be tripped without also tripping the lever 248, but conversely the lever 248 can be tripped without tripping the lever 255.

In the normal condition of the mechanism, the crank lug 268 is disposedv in the groove 262, at which time the rod 214 cccupies the projected position illustrated in Figum 15. When the crank lug has been swung over to the other groove 263, the rod 214 is retracted, at which time the lever 255'can be tripped independently as a sequence operation following the tripping of the lever 248.

With the doors in closed position, a pull on the tripping lever 248 will only cause dumping of the rear pair of doors because the lever 248 can be operated independently of the lever 255. When the rear compartment doors swing down to dumped position, the grooved wheel associated with the shaft 24! will operate to retract locking rod 214, due to the tendency of crank lug 268 to be disposed ina neutral position between grooves 262 and 263 and the coaction of'helical groove 264 with this lug, whereby the lug is caused to shift over to the groove 263. Consequently, ratchet mechanism 251 is now free'tobe tripped'independently of the rear door control mechanism and the front compartment load may now be dumped.

' Subsequent tripping of both ratchet mechanisms will then permit the opposite ends of the spring to restore both pairs of doors to closed position, and in this operation the reverse rotation of the cam wheel 26! will shift'the lug 268 back to the groove 262 and will againproject the rod-214 into its interlocking relation to lever 255. Of course, the rear pairlof doors can be restored to closed positionby such subsequent tripping of the ratchet mechanism 244 when the front pair of doors has not been dumped. With the rear doors returned to closed position, the vehicle may be moved to another selected or desired place, and the front:

compartment load dumped. At this time, looking rod 214 will be in the position shown in Figures and 16. Subsequent tripping of lever 25.5 to release ratchet mechanism l thereby permitting dumping -rotation of shaft 242 will of course, effect tripping operation of ratchet mechanism 244, but

inasmuch as there is at this time no loadupon the rear compartment doors, no movement of such doors, to dumping position will take place.

Furthermore, dumping rotation of shaft 242 will im pose tension upon the corresponding end'of spring parts thus restored to the position shown in Fig'- ures 15, 16 and 17. With both pairs of doors in closed position and both compartments loaded, a pull on the" tripping lever 255 will obviously dump both pairs of doors simultaneously.

Thus, the operating and control mechanism disclosed in Figures 15 and 16 includes the provision of novel means for the ratchet mechanisms such thatdumping operation'of the reardoors may be effected independently of dumping operation of the front compartment doors, but such operation of the rear compartment doors must have been effected first for independent dumping of the loads of both compartments, otherwise both compartment loads must be dumped simultaneously. If it is desired to retain the doors of the rear compartment in'opencondition in the eventthat the vehicle is to be moved a distance of less'than the lengthof the deposited pile of material and thus eliminate the .possibility of the rear compartment doors from scooping up some of the deposited material, it 'willbe' readily apparent that dumping of the front compartment load may be accomplished independently ofreturn of therear doors to closedpositionfsince the parts of the controlmechanism of the rear compartment doors in the, dumped condition of such doors, are so disposed at the time that'lock rod 214 is in withdrawn position out of the pathof movement of shoulder 255'. With the doorsof the rear compartment returned to closed position'after dumping and the front compartment still loaded, tripping of both ratchet mechanisms'244' and HI will only be effective to control dumping-and spring return of the front compartment doors as has'been heretofore more specifically explained. It is to be "noted that in the present embodiment, a single'coil spring is employed for spring return of both sets of doors, such spring being associated with both operating mechanisms by having its endsanchored to eachoperating mechanism so that both ends of the spring are tensionedduring dumping operation 'of the front and rear compartment doors, such spring: being'eifective at its ends to return both sets of doors/to closed position. By mounting the springover the proximate ends of the rotatable members between the two ratchet control mechanisms, a simple, compact and rugged operating and control mechanism for four door vehicles of the front and- Benbow and Green Patent No. 1,706,099, without requiring any extensive alteration or modification of the structure; have utility as attachments or acces'soriesfor older wagons, in addition to their utility as built-in.

constructions. 1

While We have disclosed several preferred em bodiments of our invention, it will'be' understood that .wedo not wish to be limited thereto, since certain changes may be madetherein without departing from the essence ofthe invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim anddesire'to secure'by Letters Patent isz I 1. In a'load carrying vehicle, the" combination with a bedand a dumping door closing the bottom direction upon movement of saiddoor to closed Hence, the present structures position, means for returning'sai'd doori'to closed position comprising a swingingm'ember,v a .coil spring'having one end thereof operatively .associated with said swinging member, the other end of said spring being associated with a collar, said.- 7

swinging member and collar beingsupported on said bed independently of said rotatable member, means for varying the initial tension, of said spring, andmeans for controlling the rotation of saidrotatablemember in either direction.

2. In a load carryingvehicle, the combination with a bed and a dumping door closing the bottom of-said bed, of a rotatable member associ-f ated with said door and rotatable in one directionmovementof saiddoor and adapted to deenergize .in returning said door to closed position, and

means mounted coaxially with said energy-storing means and connecting said energy storing means. and said rotatable member whereby energization and deenergizationof saidenergy storing means operation of said'energystoring' means. 7

3. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination is effected within predetermined small limits-of:

with a bed and adumping door closing the bot "tom of said bed, of a rotatable member associated with said door and rotatable in one direction upon dumping movement of said doorand in the opposite direction upon movement or-said door to closed position, a coil spring independently carried by said vehicle said spring beingadapt-' ed to be tensioned by dumping movement of said door and adapted' to return said door to closed position, and a motion transmitting connection between said spring and rotatable member"in-' cluding linkmeans confining tensioning and un-L tensioning of said spring within limits of less than one convolution of said spring. 4. In a'load carrying vehicle, the combination with-a bed and a dumping doorclosing theib'ot tom of said bed; of a rotatable member associated with said door and rotatable in one direction upon dumping movement of said door and in the opposite direction upon movement of said door to closed position, a coil spring carried by said vehicle independently of said memben-said spring adapted to be tensioned by dumping-movement of said door and adapted to return said door to closed position, means for imposing a grade;

termined'initial tension; on said spring, and means connecting said spring with said rotatable member including means confining torsionel distor-' tion of said spring within limits of less" than one convolution of overall distortion.

35. In a ioaecarr'ymg vehicle, the combination with a bed and a dumping door closing the bot tom of said bed, of a rotatable member associated with said door and rotatable in one direction upon dumping movement of said door and the opposite direction. upon movement of said door to'closed position, energy storing means carriedby said vehicle adapted to beenergized by dumping movement of said door andadapted to 1 deenergize ,in returning said door to closed po-.

sition, andirneans connecting said energy storing, meanszandsaid rotatable member including means adapted to accelerate closing movement of said door'during a'portion of such movement. z

' 6. Ina load carrying vehicle, the combination I with a bed and a dumpinggdoonclosing the botmeans adapted to vary the mechanical advantage said energy storing means during returning movement of said door whereby decreasing power of said energy storing meansiscompensated.

7. Ina load carrying vehicle, the combination with a bedand a dumping door closingthe bote tom of said bed, of a rotatable member associated with said door and rotatable in one direction upon dumping movement of said door ,and in the opposite direction upon movement of said door to closed position, energy storing .means carried by' said vehicle adapted to be energized by dumping movement of saiddoor and adapt:

ed to deenergize to return said door .tozclosed position, and means connectingisaid energy storing means and said rotatable member including means whereby energization and deenergization of :said energy storing means is efiected within predetermined smalllimits of operation of said energy storing means, said last named means be:

ing effective to vary the mechanical advantage of said energy storing means to compensate for lossofpower of said energy storing means during closing movement of said door and to accelerate closing movementof said door. during the final portion of such movement. i 8. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with'a bed comprising'two compartments and p 40 doors closing the bottoms of said compartments,

of a plurality of rotatable means associatedwith said doors and rotating therewith for dumping and returning said doors to 7 closed position,

means responsive to dumping movement of; saiddoors and adapted to return said doors to closed position, and means carried by said rotatable means for cooperating with said rotatable means wherebydumping movement of certain of said doors is precluded prior to such movement ofother of said doors;

9.I n a load carrying vehicle the combination with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms otsaid compartments,- of a pluralityof rotatable means associated with said doors and rotating therewith to dump and return said doors-to closed position, means respon sive to opening movement of said'doorsand adapted to return; said doors to closed position, means carried by said rotatable means for ,co-. operating with said'rotatable means whereby dumping movementof certainuof said doors isv precluded priorto such movement of; other of said doors, and means cooperatingwith said rotatable, means for accomplishing simultaneous, dumping of all of said doors. 5

p 10. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with a bed'comprising two compartments. and

' doors closing the bottoms of said compartments,

of a plurality of rotatablemeans associated with said doors and rotating therewithionidumping and returning said doors to closed position, spring means tensioned by opening movement 'offsaid doors and adapted to return said doors to closed position, means disposed in axial alignment with said rotatable means for-inter-eontrolling the movements of said rotatable means, and

separate detent means controlling said rotatable means whereby certain of said doors may' be dumped independently of other of. 'said doors.

11; In a load carrying'vehic'le, the combination with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said compartments,

of a'plurality of rotatable means associated with" said doorsand rotating therewith for dumping andreturning said doors to closed position, spring means tensioned by opening movement of .said

doors and adapted to return said doorsto closed position, means controlling the movements of said rotatable means, 'and .me ans,

mounted concentrically-ofsaid rotatable means for inter-connecting said rotatable means whereby'certain predetermined doors may be dumped independently of other of said doors or all of said doors dumped simultaneously. Y

12. In a load carrying vehicle,the combination with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said compartments, of a plurality of rotatable means associated with said doors and rotatingtherewith for dumping and returning said doors to closed position, en-:

ergy storing means cooperating with saidrotatablemeans and adapted to be energized by said rotatable, means upon dumping rotation thereof. and adaptedto become effective upon said ro-x tatable means to returnsaid doors to closed position, and means providing connection between said rotatable means and including means wherer by certain of said doors may be dumped inde-' pendently of other of said doors or all of said doors dumped simultaneously, said last named means: and said energy-storing means-being mounted concentrically with respect-to said rotatable means. 1

13. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with ,a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said compartments,

of a plurality of rotatable means associated with said doors and rotating therewith for dumping and returning said doors to closed position, onergy'storing means cooperating with said'rotat able means and adapted to be energized b'y'said rotatable means upon dumping rotation thereof and adapted to become eifective upon said rotatable. means to return said doors to'closed position, means providingconnection between said rotatable means and including means whereby certain .of said doors maybe dumped independently of other'ot said doors or all. of said doors dumped simultaneously, and means connecting said rotatable means and said energy storing means including meansfor varying the mechanical advantage of said energy storing means dur-' ing return movement of said doors 'andcompensating decreasing power of said energy storing,

means during such movement.

14. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said compart-' ments, of a plurality of rotatable means comprising shaftsdisposed in axial alignmentiand associated'with said doors and rotating there-v with for dumping and returning said doors to' closedpositionyenergy storing means cooperating with said shafts and'adapted to be energized.

by: said rotatable means upon dumping rotation thereof and adapted to become effective upon I said rotatable means to return said doors to closed position, and means interposed between the proximate ends of said shafts for providing connection between said shafts, and including means whereby certain pf saiddoors'may be dumped independently of other of said doors'or all of said doors dumped simultaneously, said energy storing means being connectedwith one of said shafts. V

15. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with a bed comprising two, compartments and doors. closing the bottoms of said compartments; of a plurality of rotatable means associated with said doors and rotating therewith for dumping and returning said doors to closed position, en-' ergy storing means cooperating with said "rotatable means and adapted to be energized by said rotatable means upon dumping rotation thereof and adapted to-become effective upon said rotatable means to return said doors to closed position, and means providing connection between said rotatable means and including means whereby certain of said doors may be dumped independently of other of said doors or all of said doors dumped simultaneously, said energy storing means being associated with one of said rotatable means and being supported independently thereof on said vehicle. r

16. In aload carrying vehicle, the combinationwith a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said. compartments, of a plurality of rotatable means comprising shafts associated with said doors and'rotating therewith for dumping and returningjsaid I doors to closed position, energy storing means cooperating with said shafts and adapted. to be energized by said shafts upon dumping rotation thereof and adapted to become effective upon said shafts to return said doors to closedposition, and means carried by" the ends of said shafts for providing connection between said shafts and including means whereby certainof said doors may be dumped independently of other of said doors or all of said doors dumped simul-.- taneously, said energy storing means comprising a single spring being carried by and connected with one of'said shafts.

17. In a load carrying vehicle, thei'combina- .tion with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottoms of .saidicompartments, of a plurality of rotatable means associated with said doors and rotating therewith for dumping and returning said doors to closed position, energy. storing means cooperating with said rotatable means and adapted to be energized by said rotatable means upon dumping rotation thereof and adapted to become effective upon said rotatable mea-ns to return said doorsv to closed position, meanscontrolling the rotation of said rotatable means, and meanscarried by one of sition, energy storing means cooperating with said rotatable means and adapted to be energized by said rotatable means upon dumping rotation :thereof and adapted to become effective upon said rotatable. means to return said doors to closed position, means controlling the rotation of. said rotatable means, and means associated with one of said rotatable means and adapted to be effective upon certain 'of said control means 'ments. 1

to prevent operation of the associated rotatable; means whereby dumping movement of certain of said doors. isprecludedprior to other of ,said doors, said energy storing means, comprising-a single springbeing carried by and connected with said rotatable means.-v I y '19; Inca load carrying vehicle, the combina tion with a bed comprising front and rear com-V, partments and doors closing the bottoms of said compartments, of a pair of rotatable members; one associated with the front compartment doors and the other with the rear compartment doors, said members being adapted to rotate with'their respective doors upon dumping or closing movementsof said doors, spring means operatively connected with said rotatable members for, re-

turning the doors to closed position :afterythe I dumping of the load, and lost motion clutch means providing a connection between said members whereby the rear compartment doors may be actuated independently of the front, compartment doors; t 20.. In aload carrying vehicle, the combinatio'n with a bed comprising front and rear compartments and doors closing the bottoms of said compartments, of a pair of rotatable members,

one associated with the front compartment doors and the other. with the rear compartmentdoors;

said'members being adapted to rotate with their respective doors during dumping and closing movements of said doors, spring means asso--v ciated with one of said members'and adapted to be 'tensioned upon dumping movement of said doors and effective to return saiddoors to closed position, and lost motionclutch means providing aconnection between said rotatable mem bers whereby said rear compartment doors may be actuated independently of said front com= partment doors; 7 t r 21. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with a'bed comprising front and rear compartmentsrand doors closing the bottoms of said compartments, of a pair of rotatable members,-one

associated with the front compartment doors and the other with the rear compartment doors, said members being adapted to rotate with their respective doors during dumping 'and' closing movements of said doors, spring means associ-' ated with one of said members and adapted to be-tensioned upon dumping movement of said doors and effective to return said doors to. closed position, means controlling the rotation of said rotatable members, and a lost motion connection between said rotatable members whereby said rear compartment doors may be actuated indes V pendently of said front compartment doors, and

whereby all of said doors may be actuated simultaneously in both dumping and closing move- --'22. In-a load carrying vehicle, the cornbina tion with a bed comprising front and rear com,- par'tments and doors closing the bottoms of said g'compartmentsfof a pair of rotatable members,

one associated with the front compartment doors and the'other with the rear compartment doors, said members being adapted to rotate with their respective doors during dumping; and closing movements of said doors, a single springcorrnected with both of said rotatable members and adapted to be tensioned upon dumping movementof said doors and effective. to return said .doors to closed position, meanscontrolling the rotation of said rotatable members, and means controlling said controlling means whereby the movements of said doors, spring means connect ed-with both of said rotatable members and adapted to be tensioned upon dumping .moveoontrolling- -said controlling means by the front compartment doors cannot :be

ment of said doors and eflective to return .said doors to closed position, means controlling the rotation of said rotatable members, means wheredum'ped gprior to .the rear compartment (doors,

. and means efiective upon :dumping rotation of the rear; compartment rotatable xmember :to arender said last named control means inoperative whereby the front compartment doors may ;be dumpedsubsequently to .or simultaneously with c the rear compartment doors.

:24. In a load carrying vehicle, zthe combination with a bed comprising front andrear .com-

' partments and doors closing the bottoms aoi said compartments, of a apair of rotatable ;members, onaassociated with the frontcompartment :doors andithe other with the .rear compartment .doors,

said members being adapted to rotate with'itheir respective doors during dumping zan'd'aclosing movements of said doors, spring means ienergized by opening .movement .of said :doors :and adapted to -return said doors :to closed position, trans.-

posable :means controlling :the movements :of said rotatable members, and "clutch :means associated with said rotatable members andrpzoviding Fan inter-iconnecting engagement effective :to Spre vent certain. of said :doors from being dumped previous to the dumping of certain {other 101 said doors. 1 .4

. 25. In;a.load carryingvehicle, theacombination with a bed comprising two compartments and doors closing the bottomsnf'said.=compartments,

V Of'tWO :rotatable members mountedzin: axial alignment onsaid vehicle, one :of said 3530-. ciated with the front compartment doors :and

' .theaother :of :said members with the rear campartment doors, :said members rbeing :adapted: to 1mtate with :the :irrespectivedoors during dumping and :closing movements of ,saidlsdoors, spring means independently of said members and effective to have energy storedfrtherein during the opening movement of saidgdoors', 'flexiblenonnections for transmittingrdriving motionihetween said spring means and saidmembers, whereby said members are adapted to be rotated in;the'

opposite directionby said energy storing :means upon completion of the dumping operation to-restore said doors to'closed position, .transposable 'me'ans effective on each of said members to .con-- "trol'the rotation thereof, actuators effective separately on said -transposable means to'causeiinilependentrotation'of said members, and an interconnecting clutch mechanism "arranged between said rotatable members -whereby-rotation" er dumping movement of certain of said doors is precluded prior to such movements et other of saididoorsresponsive-tosaidactuators;

26. .1n..a,;load carrying :container, the combination 'withia dumping. door for dumping a load gfromrthe' container, of aarotatablezmember, means connecting said memberand said (door whereby spasm? said member is rotated in one direction upon dumpingfmovement-of saiddoor and in .the a s: site :direction upon movement of said doorflto closed position, means for returning .'.said';door to closed .position-comprisinga"swinging member, means for' transmitting motion betweensaid swinging member and said rotatable membea a coil spring having .one' end thereof operatively associated with said swinging member, :thelother end of .said spring being associated with ;a :collar, said swinging imemberandcollar being supported on said containerindependently ref :said rotatable member, and means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable member in either direction r,

127. In a .load carrying container having two dumping :openings therein, the combinationlwith a-first dump door for closing :one of said openings and :a second :dump doorfor closing the othergoi said openings, of spring means for returning said doors 'to'closed position after. the dumping of the load, locking mechanism for holding said first door closed .or for holding said :first door open, including tripping means operab'le by movement in .one direction to allow said doorxto open and operable :by movement in the same direction to allow :said'sdoor to :close, locking mechanism :for

holding :said second door closed, including :tripping means operable to allow said door to open, and means EfOI precluding dumping movement I of oneot said :doorsprior to such'movement of the other of said ldoors. a

:2B..In a load carrying container having ,two dumping :openin'gs .th'erein, the combination with a first dump :door for closing one of .said. openings and a .second dump door for closing the other of said openings, of spring. means for returning said ;dOOI'S to closed position :after the dumpingrof the load, :locking mechanism for holding said :first door closed against the pressure of the load :or for holding said first door :open against :the closing energy of said ispringfme'ans,

tripping means for releasing said locking .mec'h'a- =nism,:locking mechanism for holding saidlseco'nd :door closed against the pressure "of the load, tripping means for releasing said latter locking mechanism, :and means for precluding dumping movement :of one of said doors prior to such movement of thesother-ofsaid doors.

-'29. In ;a :load carrying. container having EtWO :dumping openings therein, :the combination with :a first :dump door 'for closing one :of said topen .ings'and a second dump door for :closing :the .other of said-openings, of spring means :forreturning .said doors to closed position atte'r'the dumping f the load, releasable locking mechanism foriholding both of said'doorsxclo'sed or for holding oneof said :doors open, and means'precludlng opening movement of one of said doors :prior to opening movement :of .the other =0: said doors. 7 i

30. :In a load carrying containenhaving two dumping .fopenings therein, the combination with operatively connected -with said :two rotatable :members for precluding ripening movement mi 15 one of said doors prior to opening movement of the other of said doors.

31. In a load carrying container having two dumping openings therein, the combination with a first dump door for closing one of said openings and a second dump door for closing the other of said openings, two rotatable members each operatively connected with one of said doors, each of said rotatable members rotating in one direction when its respective door is opening and rotating in the opposite direction when its respective door is closing, spring means for returning said doors to closed position after the dumping of the load, releasable locking mechanism for holding both of said doors closed, and a lost motion clutch operatively connected with said two rotatable members for precluding opening movement of one of said doors prior to opening movement of the other of said doors.

32. In a load carrying container having two dumping openings therein, the combination with a first dump door for closing one of said openings and a second dump door for closing the other of said openings, two rotatable shafts, flexible members operatively connected with said doors and adapted to wind upon and unwind from said shafts when said doors are closing and opening, spring means operatively connected with said shafts to return said doors to closed position "after the dumping of the load, releasable locking mechanism cooperating with said shafts for holding both of said doors closed, and a lost motion clutch operatively connected with both of said shafts for precluding opening movement of one of said doors prior to opening movement of the other of said doors.

33. In a load carrying container having two dumping openings therein, the combination with a first dump door adapted to occupy closed and open positions with respect to one of said openings and a second dump door adapted to occupy closed and open positions with respect to the other of said openings, releasable locking mechanism for holding both of said doors in their closed positions, said locking mechanism being releasable to permit one of said doors to move to its open position independently of the other, a single spring, and mechanism operatively connecting said single spring with both of said doors for returning said doors totheir closed positions.

34. In a load carrying container having two' dumping openings therein, the combination with a first dump door for occupying closed and open positions with respect to" one of said openings and a second dump door adapted to occupy closed and open'positions with respect to the other of said openings, a single spring, apparatus operatively connecting one end of said spring with one of said doors and apparatus operatively connecting the other end of said spring with the other of said doors for returning said doors to their closed positions, releasable locking mechanism cooperating'with said apparatus, for holding both of said doors in their closed positions and for holding one of said doors in its open position,

and means for precluding movement of one of said doors to its open position prior to such movement of the other of said doors.

35. In a load carrying vehicle, the combination with a bed having a discharge opening therein, a dumping door movable between open and closed positions with respect to said opening, a winding shaft mounted on one end'of said bed, flexible means operatively connected with said door and adapted to Wind upon and unwind from said shaft in the movements of said door, a second shaft mounted upon the end of said bed and spaced from said winding shaft, a coiled spring having one end connected to said second shaft, motion transmitting mechanism operatively connecting said shafts and causing one of said shafts to rotate at a different rate than the other, and

releasable locking mechanism coacting with one of said shafts for holding said door in closed position.

JAMES D. BENBOW. DE MAR A. PALMER. 

